I almost bought into the Zaino frenzy. The pictures posted here, http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=112497 , are *sweet*.

But then reality set in. I am a Lazy Boy. The '93 Explorer I traded in for my WRX hadn't been hand washed or waxed since '93.

So what are the best, EASY wash/wax products? By "easy", I really mean "least time consuming". Elbow grease isn't really an issue.

I love my new Subie enough to go back to hand washing and waxing, but an all day Zaino-like fest with 6 different products for the sheet metal alone? Yeah, that might happen... once...

If it matters, it's a silver wagon in central
NJ (some snow, usually melts in 24 hours) that
will take trips to eastern snow country (VT, NH, ME).

Thanks,
LazyBoy

Use Klasse All-In-One Car Polish & Sealant and Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze. It's easy to put on, real shiny and it lasts up to 6 months.

Mothers cleaner paste wax. Very easy. Very good.

Meguire's gold class wax is really nice. It goes on easy and comes off nice and easy too. If your really lazy maybe you should look into those once-a-year waxes.

Zaino and Klasse are polymers, thats why they last so long [~6 months]. Nu-Finish is also a polymer and lasts long, and is cheap and available at your local car store. You still have to do it at least bi-yearly. Any Carnauba based wax will be gone in 2 months tops.

Spend a day each spring and fall putting a coat or two of a polymer, and maybe a clay in the spring to remove crud. That is the bare minimum. Nu-Finish is a 'once a year' but I would try not to buy into that. If you want it to look good, but can't spend the time, find a local detailer and find out costs for a mini detail. In Toronto you can get a mini detail for $80 tax included. Thats like $45 US.

I use Zaino and love it - I put 2 coats on a few weeks back and it should last me through the winter. In the summer I re-coat every once in a while because I like to spend time on my car.

Whatever you do, the application is the most important part. Take your time if you are going to do it.

JNaubur

Just use the Zaino. It's time consuming the first time, but well worth it. Subsequent applications go much quicker. :)

I use this stuff called waterless carwash. Best wax I have ever used. Great shine, you can clean your car with a bucket of water and a rag and or a hose. It holds up really well and has cut down on my stone chips in the paint.

i use meguiars cleaner wax. its pretty easy to apply, nothing you cant do.
but how do you folk remove the wax?
:D

Go to Autopia-forums.com and do some research. After I did that I went to properautocare.com to look at different products.

I decided to try the Klasse because I have dark paint with swirls and had read it did wonders to remove swirls. It was effective and left a glassy shine. This is an acrylic/synthetic product and applies and buffs off differently than real waxes, so just read up and know how to do it.

Again, do some homework because not the same product fits everyone's needs. Good luck!!

By the way, carnuba wax can be layered over Klasse for a buttery shine. Some folks like this type shine more than a glassy, hard-candy shine. To each his own...

Buy some Oxi-Clean off the TV. It works better than anything I have ever tried for cleaning my car, or anything else for that matter. I swear it works, it will not disappoint.

Originally posted by Faiz One
Buy some Oxi-Clean off the TV. It works better than anything I have ever tried for cleaning my car, or anything else for that matter. I swear it works, it will not disappoint.

:lol:
Then we could check the finish by lighting a small fire on his hood.

Barry

Zaino is quick and easy to apply. Absolutely no reason not to use it. Coats go on quicker than any other wax I've used. And the results are amazing.

Nick

Another vote for KLASSE..easy to apply and last very long..
got it from www.properautocare.com

Subymama, I'm also an autopian here :)

Hey, Langit:

That's a great site that helps you learn the reasons for different products. It can be confusing unless you know a few basic things.

Did you use a moist or dry applicator for the Sealant-Glaze? I used damp but read recently that dry foam was best. Just wondering.

Also how long has your Klasse been on your car?

for SG, I use dry applicator..for AIO, I use damp applicator..

the last time I put Klasse was about a month ago..and I'm not planning to add more layers until next spring ( 5 months away) :)

I'm a big lazy a** too, ask my wife, but I actually out out the effort the first few times with the Zaino knowing full well it wouldn't last forever. As much as I hated it it was worth it. Don't skimp, use the Zaino.

I use meguires soft wash gel... Its the bright pink stuff... Then if it needs a wax I use meguires canuva (i think thats how it is spelt) wax...

They wrok really well, and it is quick and easy....

Brad

You must use Zaino!
The main reason I went with it is that you don't get the white wax residue when you are done! A lazy mans dream! No q-tippin' to get the gunk out of hard to reach areas! And washing the car! It is so easy with Zaino on the car! In Florida we have dreaded love bugs....these things stick to yer car like epoxy! Well, they come right off now that I have Zaino on. Yes, the first application takes some time...follow the faq's on Zaino's site...and make sure you use the towels they recommend...I found Cannon brand at Wal-Mart. You really can't go wrong...and it is ultimately less work in the long run!

Gotta think long run.

Klasse´s the same. You can get it on any black parts and it´s OK. They even recommend you wipe it over the rear and side windows, headlights and taillights! Any black part looks shinier when you put the Klasse on.

yep, almost all non porous surface can be protected with Klasse..
in addition to all plastic and glass surface on my car, I even Klassed my wheels, wiper arms, and Exhaust tip...to protect them from snow salt in the winter :)

I'll chime in as another Klasse user :D I love the stuff. It's so easy to put on and wipe off, and no residue! Looks and feels great, too! Lasts longer, and is much cheaper than any of the high-end waxes (Zaino, Zymol, etc). I'm sorry, but I could never put up with the multiple steps it takes to use the Zaino products properly. Lazy butts of the world, unite! :D

Jordan

I'd heard a lot of good things about Klasse AIO and SG, and I'd heard a lot of good things about Zaino. Both are polymer based and last a very long time.

What ended up deciding it for me is:

a) Klasse AIO uses an abrasive to clean your paint. Noooo abrasives for my new paint. Zaino has no abrasives in any of their car polish products. Very paint friendly.

b) Zaino is easier to buff off than Klasse. It wipes off easily with my Fieldcrest 100% cotton towels.

c) To get deep shine (the wet look), you really need to layer Carnauba wax on top of Klasse. Once you do the Carnauba, you can't add more AIO or SG unless you strip everything down with Dawn and start all over. No thanks! Zaino Z-1, Z-2, and Z-5 can be layered over each other, no problem!

See the other wax thread to see what Zaino has done for me!

/mel :D

Dawn will not remove layers of AIO and SG..it will only remove the wax topper..so if you want to add more layer of SG, just dawn wash or clay then continue with additional layers of SG

As for the buffing off issue, I have no problem so far, as long as I let the product dry for half an hour before buffing off..

In addition, the cleaner in AIO is very very mild, a lot of people even use additional polish/cleaner/swirl remover before applying AIO

But I agree, Zaino will give you a very good look and IMO you can't go wrong with any of the two...:)

FAIZ ONE:

You are not the only fan of oxyclean ... I hear Michael Jackson uses it regularly and just look at his finish! By the way, did he get that problem fixed with his nose falling off, yet?:alien:

Klasse All-In-One and Sealant Glaze are not polymer or silicon, they're acrylic. Klasse AIO is not abrasive and it is easy to rub off.

There seems to be some disagreement about whether Klasse AIO has any abrasives. Below is one of several threads at Autopia Forums discussing this:
http://www.autopia-carport.com/forum/showthread.php3?threadid=4272

If Klasse AIO does contain abrasives, is it enough to do harm to your paint? Most likely not. Does Zaino contain any abrasives? Absolutely not.

/mel